Tips for Teaching Remotely with Burke Boxes

Build group or individual KWL charts regarding the box’s topic and contents. Facilitate whole class or breakout group discussions about what students added to their chart. Revisit the charts to fill in the Learned section when you have completed your box unit.
Read a book from the Burke Box, either live or provide it as a recording. Facilitate a discussion about it afterwards.
Highlight four or five pieces from the Burke Box. Have students select one piece to do some further research on and write a short response about. Students can share their findings with other students in small breakout groups at a later date.
Matching
Provide students with photos of several box collection pieces and, separately, the ID Card descriptions for those pieces. Have students attempt to match the descriptions to the photo based on context clues, background knowledge from lessons, and research.

Sorting
Show students an assortment of items from the box and ask them to categorize and sort the items. Split students into breakout groups to compare the categories they created and discuss the reasoning for their sorting choices.
10 Questions
Number all students 1–4. Assign all 1s a secret collection piece by giving them the photo and ID card for that piece, and so on with different collection pieces for the 2s, 3s, and 4s. Then split students into groups that have a 1, 2, 3 and 4. Have groups play 10 questions, where Questioners pose 10 yes or no questions to an Answerer about their collection piece, then attempt to guess which piece the Answerer has. The game continues until all students in the group have a chance to be Answerer.
Provide small groups of students the photo and ID card for a secret collection piece, and give them time to discuss it. Then rearrange groups so each new group has only one student assigned to each secret item in it. Have new groups play 10 questions: Questioners pose 10 yes or no questions to an Answerer about their collection piece, then attempt to guess which piece the Answerer has. The game continues until all students in the group have a chance to be the Answerer.

After showing off a collection piece and reading its ID Card, send students on a “scavenger hunt” to find something in their home that is related to the piece or reminds them of it in some way. Give select students time to explain why they chose their household item.
Many boxes contain whole biological specimens or parts of biological specimens. Have students draw the animal a bone or skin came from, or have them observe and sketch some life forms around their home such as insects, birds, or pets.
Construct a model
Choose a topic or collection piece(s) from the box and have students build a model at home that represents it. Open up the materials and requirements to inspire variety and creative exploration. Students can share their completed models in breakout sessions, and/or have several volunteers present to the whole group.

Connect culture boxes to students’ diverse families and customs. Have them collect a family story, recall a favorite family recipe, or share a piece of artwork or clothing. Have volunteers share their stories or items with their peers.
Have students write a paragraph or two about how what they’ve learned through engaging with the box contents relates to them personally. Several students can volunteer to share their work with the whole group.

Databases